Meat emulsion pump

ABSTRACT

A meat emulsion pump is disclosed herein which is well suited for use with meat processing machines such as frankfurter or sausage stuffing machines. The pump includes means for removing entrapped air bubbles from the meat emulsion and has a vacuum pump operatively connected thereto for removal of the released air from the pump interior. The vacuum pump communicates with the pump cavity between the pump discharge opening and the pump intake opening. The intake opening is positioned so that the emulsion enters the cavity at a location wherein the cavity has already begun to expand or increase. The pump cavity configuration of the pump is such that the meat passes through the pump in a smooth flowing manner without turbulance being created in the product thereby eliminating smear and &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;fat out&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; damage. An accumulator means is fluidly connected to the conduit extending from the pump to the meat processing machine. The accumulator means is adapted to supply the pumped emulsion to the processing machine under a constant pressure. The accumulator means also includes means for starting and stopping the pump so that the said constant pressure is assured and so that the emulsion is not recirculated.

in; 3,742,556 [451 July 3,1973

[ MEAT EMULSION PUMP [75] Inventor: Donald L. Beasley, Des Moines, Iowa[73] Assignee: Townsend Engineering Company,

Des Moines, Iowa [22] Filed: July 2, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 159,120 I3.543.330 12 1970 Muller.'. .11. 17/37 Primary Examiner-Lucie l-l.Laudenslager AtturneyZarley, McKee & Thomte [57] ABSTRACT A meatemulsion pump is disclosed herein which is well 66 i .96 94 mi suitedfor use with meat processing machinessuch as frankfurter or sausagestuffing machines. The pump includes means for removing entrapped airbubbles from the meat emulsion and has a vacuum pump operativelyconnected thereto for removal of the released air from the pumpinterior. The vacuum pump communicates with the pump cavity between thepump discharge opening and the pump intake opening. The intake openingis positioned so that the emulsion enters the cavity at a locationwherein the cavity has already begun to expand or increase. The pumpcavity configu ration of the pump is such that the meat passes throughthe pump in a smooth flowing manner without turbulance being created inthe product thereby eliminating smear and fat out" damage. Anaccumulator means is fluidly connected to the conduit extending from thepump to the meat processing machine. The accumulator means is adapted tosupply the pumped emulsion to the processing machine under a constantpressure. The accumulator means also includes means for starting andstopping the pump so that the said constant pressure is assured and sothat the emulsion is not recirculated.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDJUL 3191s 3.742.556

III] [1114/ MEAT EMULSION PUMP Meat processing machines such asfrankfurter or sausage stuffing machines require that the meat emulsionbe supplied thereto at a constant pressure so that the machine willuniformly stuff the emulsion into the casings or the like. The presenceof air bubbles in the meat emulsion is undersirable since the airbubbles are conductive to the formation of harmful bacteria in the meatemulsion. It is also a critical necessity that the meat emulsion betreated gingerly during the pumping and stuffing thereof so that smearand fat out damage to the emulsion is prevented. Smear and fat outdamage occurs if the product is not pumped in a smoothly flowing mannerwithout turbulance being created therein. Smear damage is to be avoidedsince such damage results in the product exhibiting a fatty appearance.The fat out damage is the damage that occurs when the protein cell orparticles in the emulsion are broken down which results in the cells orparticles being unable to hold fat. Thus, the cells or particles fat outand leave globs of lard, etc. which appear in the product. The fat outdamage occurs when excess A further object of this invention is toprovide a meat I emulsion pump having means therein to remove the airbubbles from the meat emulsion and to extract the removed air from thepump itself.

A further object of this invention is to provide a meat emulsion pumpand accumulator system which supplies the meat emulsion to a meatprocessing machine at a constant pressure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a meat emulsionpump'wherein the meat emulsion is handled very gingerly as it passestherethrough.

A further object of this invention is to provide a meat emulsion pumpand accumulator means wherein the meat emulsion is prevented fromrecirculating.

A further object of this invention is to provide a meat emulsion pumpwhich prevents smear and fat out damage to the product.

A further object of this invention is to provide a meat emulsion pumpwherein the meat emulsion passes through the pump in a smoothflowing'manner without turbulance being created therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a meat emulsion pumpwherein the emulsion enters the pump at a location wherein the cavityhas already begun to expand or increase. V

A further object of this invention is to provide a meat emulsion pumpwhich is economical of manufacture and durable in use.

These and other objects will be. apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements andcombination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the meat emulsion pump and accumulatormeans of this invention:

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view seen along lines 22 of FIG. 1 withportions thereof cut away to more fully illustrate the invention:

FIG. 3 is a sectional view seen along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2:

FIG'. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view seen along lines 4-'4 of FIG. 2:

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2 except that thefinger plate means of FIG. 2 has been omitted from the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 5:

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the power train of theinvention:

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the accumulator seen along line 77 of FIG.1:

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the electrical circuitry of theinvention; and

FIG. 9 is a partial exploded view of the pump rotor and the rotor vaneswith a portion of the rotor cut away to more fully illustrate theinvention.

The meat emulsion pump of this invention is generally designated by thereference numeral 10 comprising generally a hopper 12, pump 14, vacuumjar assembly 16 and accumulator 18. A housing 20 is supported by legs 22and includes a support area 24 upon which is mounted the pump 14. Pump14 comprises a housing 26 having covers 28 and 30 closing the sidesthereof by means of bolts 32 as seen in FIG. 4. Housing 26 is providedwith a generally rectangular shaped intake opening 34 and a dischargeopening 36 which communicate with the interior chamber or cavity of thepump housing as shown in FIG. 2.

Drive shaft 38 extends through bearing 40, bushing 42, and seal 44 incover 30 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. Rotor 46 is splined ontothe end of shaft 38 for rotation therewith and includes a centralportion 48 and end portion 50 which includes shoulders 52, 54, sides 56,58, and peripheral .wall 60. A plurality of spaced apart slots 62 areformed in rotor 46 which receive the vanes 64 therein. Each of the vanes64 is generally rectangular in shape and includes a leading side 66,trailing side 68, and edge portions 70, 72, 74 and 76 as illustrated inFIG. 9.

The vanes 64 move inwardly and outwardly withrespect to the slots 62 asthe rotor 46 is rotated. Likewise, rotor 46 is offset or eccentricallydisposed with respect to the pump cavity 94 which is defined by wall 96.As

seen in FIG. 2, the wall 60 of rotor 46 passes extremely close to thewall 96 just abovethe discharge opening 36 and such position willgenerally be referred to by the reference numeral 98. As illustrated. inFIG. 2, the wall 60 of rotor 46 is spaced considerably from the wall 96at the position generally referred to by the reference numeral 100. Achannel 102 is formed in wall 96 and extends from 104 to the dischargeopening 36. A chan-' the intake opening 34 which is adapted to support afinger plate 114 thereon (FIG. 2). Finger plate 114 is mounted on thearea 1 12 by means of bolts 116 extending through bolt openings 1I8'and'being threadably received by the housing 26. Pins 120 and 122extend downwardly through openings 124 and 126 respectively to furthersupport the finger plate 114. Finger plate 114 includes spaced apartfingers 128 which have their undersides curved as illustrated in FIG. 2to correspond to the wall 96. The fingers 128 also have slots 130 formedin their undersides. Hopper 12 is secured to the housing 26 by bolts 132in the fashion seen in FIG. 2 so that the lower open end thereof is incommu nication with intake opening 34 and the fingers 128.

Housing 26 has a jar support 134 integrally formed therewith forsupporting a glass vacuum jar 136 thereon. Opening 110 extends throughhousing 26 to provide communication between channel 106 and the interiorof the jar 136. A solenoid operated valve means 138 is imposed inopening 110 for selectively preventing and permitting communicationbetween the channel 106 and jar 136. A hollow pipe 140 is secured to thesupport 134 within jar 136 (FIG. 2) with its interior being incommunication with a recessed area 142 which is in communication with avacuum line 144. A filter media comprised of porus material, screenwire, or the like, is positioned in the recessed area 142 to preventmeat particles from entering the vacuum line 144 as will be describedhereinafter. Vacuum line 144 extends from a vacuum motor 148 whichcreates a predetermined vacuum in jar 136. Seal 150 is positionedbetween support 134 and jar 136 to seal the interior of the jar 136 fromthe atmosphere.

Accumulator 18 includes a base 152 supported by legs 154. Body 156 ispositioned on base 154 with a seal 158 being provided therebetween.Cover 160 is mounted on the upper end of body 156 with bolts 162 beingemployed to secure the cover 160 and body 156 to the base 152. Cover 160includes an intake opening 164, discharge opening 166 and a manifoldportion 168 therebetween which is positioned above the upper end of body156. Pipe means 170 connects the intake opening 164 of accumulator 18with the discharge opening 36 of pump 14. Pipe means 172 connects thedischarge opening 166 with a meat stuffing machine (not shown). Piston174 is slidably mounted in body 156 and has a pair of spaced apartsealing rings 176 and 178 extending around its periphery for sealingengagement with the inner wall surface of body 156. Piston 174 has aninterior compartment 180 formed therein which communicates with aplurality of radially extending bores 182. The outer ends of the bores182 are positioned between the rings 176 and 178 as shown in FIG. 7 topermit any air leaking by ring 178 to pass through the bores 182 intocompartment 180. A hollow piston rod 184 is secured to piston 174 sothat its interior 186 is in communication with compartment 180 to permitthe air in compartment 180 to escape to the atmosphere through the lowerend of the rod 184. Rod 184 slidably extends through seal 188 andopening 190 as seen in FIG. 7. Switch support 192 extends downwardlyfrom base 152 and has a pair of switches 194 and 196 adjustably mountedthereon. Switches 194 and 196 have actuating switch arms 198 and 200extending therefrom respectively which are engageable with the rod 184to open and close the switches. Air line 202 is in communication withbore 204 for supplying air under pressure into the interior of theaccumulator 18 below piston 174. The amount of air pressure suppliedthereto may vary from to 120 pounds depending upon such things as:'( ltype of emulsion; (2) speed of pump; and (3) size or fragile characterof casings.

With respect to FIG. 8, the numeral 206 refers to a master switch whichis imposed in lead 208 extending from one side of a source electricalcurrent. Lead 210 connects switch 206 with the solenoid 212 of the valve138 which is connected to one side of accumulator switch .196 by lead214. The pump motor 216 is connected to leads 210 and 214 by leads 218and 220 respectively. Lead 222 connects the other side of accumulatorswitch 196 with the other side of the source of electrical current.Vacuum motor 224 provides the power for operating the vacuum pumpconnected to vacuum line 144. Motor 224 is electrically connected tolead 222 by lead 226 and electrically connected to switch 228 by lead230. Switch 228 is electrically connected to lead 210 by lead 232. Thecircuitry for the air compressor supplying air to accumulator 18 has notbeen shown since it is of conventional design.

Pump motor 216 has a variable speed pulley means 234 provided on itsdrive shaft 236. The variable speed pulley means 234 is controlled bymeans of conventional crank assembly 238 which has a crank handle 240positioned outwardly of housing 20 so that the operator can convenientlycontrol the pump speed. Pulley means 234 is connected to anothervariable speed pulley means 242 by belt 244. Pulley means 244 is mountedon shaft 248 of gear box 250 which drives shaft 38 through shaft 252,sprocket 254. chain 256 and sprocket 258.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified version of the device which omits a fingerplate adjacent the intake opening of the pump. The preferred embodimentof the device utilizes a finger plate but it is possible to omit thesame with somewhat reduced air removal efficiently being encountered.

The normal method of operation is as follows. The hopper 12 is filledwith the emulsion and the master switch 206 and vacuum motor switch 228are manually closed. The source of air pressure for the accumulator isalso activated so that the desired air pressure is exerted on theunderside of the piston 174 to raise the piston 174 to the position ofFIG. 7 so that switch 196 is permitted to close. The above procedurecauses pump 14 to-be operated as well as simultaneously opening thevalve 138 by means of the solenoid 212.

The opening of valve 138 causes a vacuum to be cre-. ated in the pumpcavity which serves to charge the cavity to draw the emulsion thereinto.The emulsion is drawn into the intake opening 34 through the fingers 128of the finger plate 114 as shown by the arrow 34A (FIG. 2). The fingerplate 114 breaks up the emulsion as it enters the cavity 94 so that airbubbles in the emulsion are exposed and freed from the emulsion itself.The configuration of the intake opening 34 causes the emulsion to beextruded into the cavity in a thin sheet so that a large surface area ofemulsion is exposed to the vacuum present in the cavity 94. Theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 does not employ a finger plate to breakup the emulsion but merely causes the emulsion to be extruded into thepump cavity in a thin sheet to expose a large surface area of theemulsion to the vacuum. As previously stated, the embodiment of FIG. 5is somewhat less efficient than the preferred embodiment although theembodiment of FIG. 5 does perform satisfactorily. v

It-is important to note that the positioning of the intake opening issuch that the emulsion is drawn into the cavity 94 at a location afterthe cavity has begun to expand or enlarge. Due to the viscosity of an.emulsion, the air bubbles that are embedded in the emulsion will tend toexpand when the emulsion is subjected to a vacuum. The expansion of theair bubbles expands the volume of the entire emulsion. Since theemulsion enters the cavity at a location wherein the cavity has alreadybegun to expand, the air bubbles at or near the surface of the emulsionwill explode out of the emulsion. If the emulsion were to enter thecavity at a location wherein the rotor was positioned closely adjacentthe wall 96 (e.g. 98), the expanding air bubbles would be limited orhindered by the wall 96 and would not be permitted to explode out of theemulsion. The location of the vacuum line is also very important sincethe location prevents the emulsion from feeding back into the vacuumsystem. The vacuum jar 136 merely acts as a safety and it is highlyunlikely that any emulsion will ever flow against the movement of therotor vanes 64 to get to the vacuum inlet. The distance between thevanes 64 is less than the distance between the vacuum inlet and theintake opening so that a vane 64 will always be positioned therebetweento prevent the emulsion from flowing into the vacuum inlet. The channel106 permits the released air to flow towards the vacuum inlet.

The pump causes the emulsion to be pumped therefrom outwardly throughthe discharge opening 36. The interior configuration of the pump is suchthat the emulsion is treated very gingerly during the pumping thereof sothat smear and fat out damage to the emulsion is prevented. The emulsionis moved through the pump in a smoothly flowing manner withoutturbulance being created therein. It can be seen that the interiorconfiguration of the pump 10 is such that the emulsion is not forcedthrough a constricted area or moved around a severe corner therebypreventing smear and fat out damage. The configuration of the pump alsoprevents the emulsion from being recirculated due to the relationship ofthe rotor means, vanes and the wall 96.

The emulsion is supplied to the processing machine such as a frankfurteror sausage stuffing machine through the pipe means 170, accumulator 18and pipe means 172. Under normal operating conditions, the piston 174will remain in the position illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 7 due tothe predetermined amount of air pressure therebelow. The accumulator 18insures that the emulsion will be supplied to the processing machineunder constant pressure to enable accurate metering of the emulsion tothe processing machine. The accumulator 18 also permits the processingmachine to be turned off at the processing machine without separatelyturning off the meal emulsion pump. If the processing machine is turnedoff, the pump 14 will continue to pump the emulsion to the accumulatorwhich will cause the piston 174 to lower to permit the emulsion to fillthe interior of the accumulator. The emulsion will continue to fill theinterior of the accumulator until such time as the lower end of thepiston rod 184 engages the switch 196 to de-activate the pump motor 216which simultaneously closes the valve 134 since electrical power is nolonger supplied to the solenoid 212. When the processing machine isagain activated, the air pressure under the piston 174 will cause thepiston 174 to raise as the processing machine requires emulsion. Upwardmovement of the piston 174 causes the rod 184 to disengage from the,switch 196 which then causes pump motor 216 to be energized'andsimultaneously causing the valve 138 to be opened since electrical poweris again furnished to the solenoid 212. As previously stated, the airpressure beneath piston 174 may be varied from 20 to I20 poundsdepending uponthe type of emulsion and the speed of the pump. Forexample, low pressure would be supplied to the interior of accumulator18 if the processing machine was handling fragile products or smallcasings. The accumulator 18 controls the entire system and insures thatthe emulsion will'be supplied to the processing machine under constantpressure as previously discussed. The variable speed mechanismassociated with the pump motor 216 permits the pump to be preciselycontrolled so that the volume of emulsion can be selectively adjusteddepending upon the volume of product being processed.

The accumulator 18 insures that the pump will only pump the emulsiononce since the pump will be shut off upon the piston 174 reaching apredetermined position in the accumulator 18. The accumulator l8 insuresthat excess pressure will not be imposed on the emulsion to prevent theprotein cells or particles of the emulsion from being broken downthereby preventing fat out" damage to the emulsion.

Switch 194 has been illustrated merely to illustrate that the piston rod184 can be used to actuate additional mechanisms so that the accumulatorcould be used as a proportioning device.

Thus it can be seen that an extremely novel emulsion pump has beenprovided which accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

I claim:

1. An emulsion pump comprising,

a rotary pump means comprising a housing having intake and dischargeopenings formed therein, a rotor means rotatably mounted in said housingfor pumping an emulsion,

and a vacuum means in communication with said housing for creating avacuum in said housing to remove air from the emulsion,

said rotor means having a plurality of spaced apart slots formedthereinextending radially inwardly from the periphery thereof; a rotorvane radially movably mounted in each of said slots, said housing havinga cavity formed therein in which said rotor means is positioned, saidcavity being defined by a generally annular wall surface, said rotormeans having its axis of rotation offset with respect to the center ofsaid cavity, and means in said housing for moving said vanes in saidslots so that said vanes wipe upon said wall surface as said rotor meansrotates,

said housing having a vacuum port means formed therein, said vacuummeans being in communication with said vacuum port means, saidvacuumport means being positioned between said discharge and intake openingson the downstream side of said discharge opening, said wall surfacehaving a channel means formed therein extending from said vacuum portmeans towards said intake opening,

said valve means being mounted in said vacuum port means for selectivelyopening and closing said vacuum port means.

2. An emulsion pump comprising,

a rotary pump means comprising a housing having intake and dischargeopenings formed therein, a

rotor means rotatably mounted in said housing for pumping an emulsion,

and a vacuum means in communication with said housing for creating avacuum in said housing to remove air from the emulsion,

said rotor means having a plurality of spaced apart slots formed thereinextending radially inwardly from the periphery thereof; a rotor vaneradially movably mounted in each of said slots, said housing having acavity formed therein in which said rotor means is positioned, saidcavity being defined by a generally annular wall surface, said rotormeans having its axis of rotation offset with respect to the center ofsaid cavity, and means in said housing for moving said vanes in saidslots so that said vanes wipe upon said wall surface as said rotor meansrotates,

said housing having a vacuum port means formed therein, said vacuummeans being in communication with said vacuum port means, said vacuumport means being positioned between said discharge and intake openingson the downstream side of said discharge opening, said wall surfacehaving a channel means formed therein extending from said vacuum portmeans towards said intake opening,

a vacuum jar means secured to said housing in communication with saidvacuum means and said vacuum port means, and means in said vacuum jarmeans for preventing emulsion particles from entering the vacuum meanssystem.

3. The emulsion pump of claim 2 wherein said means in said vacuum jarmeans comprises an elongated hollow pipe having one end thereof incommunication with said vacuum means, the other end of said pipe beingpositioned in a spaced apart relationship with said vacuum port means,and a filter means at said one end of said pipe.

4. An emulsion pump comprising,

a rotary pump means comprising a housing having intake and dischargeopenings formed therein, a rotor means rotatably mounted in said housingfor pumping an emulsion,

and a vacuum means in communication with said housing for creating avacuum in said housing to remove air from the emulsion,

said'housing having a cavity formed therein in which said rotor means ispositioned, said cavity being defined by a generally annular wallsurface, said rotor means having its axis of rotation offset withrespect to the center of said cavity so that the space between saidrotor means and said wall surface increasingly enlarges in the directionof rotation of said rotor means, from said discharge opening to saidintake opening,

said vacuum means being in communication with said cavity between saiddischarge opening and said intake opening,

said intake opening being positioned with respect to said housing sothat the emulsion enters the cavity at a location wherein the said spacebetween said rotor means and said wall surface has at least partiAllyincreased so that said vacuum means can communicate with the emulsionentering said cavity to remove air from the emulsion,

and a finger plate means at least partially extending over said intakeopening to break up the emulsion entering the cavity.

5. An emulsion pump comprising,

a rotary pump means comprising a housing having intake and dischargeopenings formed therein, a rotor means rotatably mounted in said housingfor pumping an emulsion,

and a vacuum means in communication with said housing for creating avacuum in said housing to remove air from the emulsion,

and a finger plate means at least partially extending over said intakeopening for releasing entrapped air bubbles from said emulsion enteringthe cavity.

6. The emulsion pump of claim 5 wherein said finger plate means has aplurality of spaced apart fingers extending at least partially over saidintake opening, at least a portion of the emulsion entering said housingbetween said spaced part fingers.

7. The emulsion pump of claim 6 wherein said rotor means has a pluralityof spaced apart rotor vanes extending therefrom which are adapted towipe upon said finger plate means.

8. An emulsion pump comprising,

a rotary pump means comprising a housing having intake and dischargeopenings formed therein, a rotor means rotatably mounted in said housingfor pumping an emulsion,

and a vacuum means in communication with said housing for creating avacuum in said housing to remove air from the emulsion,

said rotor means having a plurality of spaced apart slots formed thereinextending radially inwardly from the periphery thereof; a rotor vaneradially movably mounted in each of said slots, said housing having acavity formed therein in which said rotor means is positioned, saidcavity being defined by a generally annular wall surface, said rotormeans having its axis of rotation offset with respect to the center ofsaid cavity, and means in said housing for moving said vanes in saidslots so that said vanes wipe upon said wall surface as said rotor meansrotates,

said housing having a vacuum port means formed therein, said vacuummeans being in communication with said vacuum port means, said vacuumport means being positioned between said discharge and intake openingson the downstream side of said discharge opening, said wall surfacehaving a channel means formed therein extending from said vacuum portmeans towards said intake opening,

the length of said channel means being suffieient so as to providecommunication between said intake opening and said vacuum port means.

9. An emulsion pump comprising,

a rotary pump means comprising a housing having intake and dischargeopenings formedtherein, a rotor means 'rotatably mounted in said housingfor pumping an-emulsion,

and a vacuum means in communication with said housing for creating avacuum in said housing to remove air from the emulsion,

said pump means having means at its intake opening to cause the emulsionto be extruded into said cav-' ity in a thin sheet so that a largesurface area of emulsion is exposed to the vacuum present in saidcavity.

k i l I?

1. An emulsion pump comprising, a rotary pump means comprising a housing having intake and discharge openings formed therein, a rotor means rotatably mounted in said housing for pumping an emulsion, and a vacuum means in communication with said housing for creating a vacuum in said housing to remove air from the emulsion, said rotor means having a plurality of spaced apart slots formed therein extending radially inwardly from the periphery thereof; a rotor vane radially movably mounted in each of said slots, said housing having a cavity formed therein in which said rotor means is positioned, said cavity being defined by a generally annular wall surface, said rotor means having its axis of rotation offset with respect to the center of said cavity, and means in said housing for moving said vanes in said slots so that said vanes wipe upon said wall surface as said rotor means rotates, said housing having a vacuum port means formed therein, said vacuum means being in communication with said vacuum port means, said vacuum port means being positioned between said discharge and intake openings on the downstream side of said discharge opening, said wall surface having a channel means formed therein extending from said vacuum port means towards said intake opening, said valve means being mounted in said vacuum port means for selectively opening and closing said vacuum port means.
 2. An emulsion pump comprising, a rotary pump means comprising a housing having intake and discharge openings formed therein, a rotor means rotatably mounted in said housing for pumping an emulsion, and a vacuum means in communication with said housing for creating a vacuum in said housing to remove air from the emulsion, said rotor means having a plurality of spaced apart slots formed therein extending radially inwardly from the periphery thereof; a rotor vane radially movably mounted in each of said slots, said housing having a cavity formed therein in which said rotor means is positioned, said cavity being defined by a generally annular wall surface, said rotor means having its axis of rotation offset with respect to the center of said cavity, and means in said housing for moving said vanes in said slots so that said vanes wipe upon said wall surface as said rotor means rotates, said housing having a vacuum port means formed therein, said vacuum means being in communication with said vacuum port means, said vacuum port means being positioned between said discharge and intake openings on the downstream side of said discharge opening, said wall surface having a channel means formed therein extending from said vacuum port means towards said intake opening, a vacuum jar means secured to said housing in communication with said vacuum means and said vacuum port means, and means in said vacuum jar means for preventing emulsion particles from entering the vacuum means system.
 3. The emulsion pump of claim 2 wherein said means in said vacuum jar means comprises an elongated hollow pipe having one end thereof in communication with said vacuum means, the other end of said pipe being positioned in a spaced apart relationship with said vacuum port means, and a filter means at said one end of said pipe.
 4. An emulsion pump comprising, a rotary pump means comprising a housing having intake and discharge openings formed therein, a rotor means rotatably mounted in said housing for pumping an emulsion, and a vacuum means in communication with said housing for creating a vacuum in said housing tO remove air from the emulsion, said housing having a cavity formed therein in which said rotor means is positioned, said cavity being defined by a generally annular wall surface, said rotor means having its axis of rotation offset with respect to the center of said cavity so that the space between said rotor means and said wall surface increasingly enlarges in the direction of rotation of said rotor means, from said discharge opening to said intake opening, said vacuum means being in communication with said cavity between said discharge opening and said intake opening, said intake opening being positioned with respect to said housing so that the emulsion enters the cavity at a location wherein the said space between said rotor means and said wall surface has at least partially increased so that said vacuum means can communicate with the emulsion entering said cavity to remove air from the emulsion, and a finger plate means at least partially extending over said intake opening to break up the emulsion entering the cavity.
 5. An emulsion pump comprising, a rotary pump means comprising a housing having intake and discharge openings formed therein, a rotor means rotatably mounted in said housing for pumping an emulsion, and a vacuum means in communication with said housing for creating a vacuum in said housing to remove air from the emulsion, and a finger plate means at least partially extending over said intake opening for releasing entrapped air bubbles from said emulsion entering the cavity.
 6. The emulsion pump of claim 5 wherein said finger plate means has a plurality of spaced apart fingers extending at least partially over said intake opening, at least a portion of the emulsion entering said housing between said spaced part fingers.
 7. The emulsion pump of claim 6 wherein said rotor means has a plurality of spaced apart rotor vanes extending therefrom which are adapted to wipe upon said finger plate means.
 8. An emulsion pump comprising, a rotary pump means comprising a housing having intake and discharge openings formed therein, a rotor means rotatably mounted in said housing for pumping an emulsion, and a vacuum means in communication with said housing for creating a vacuum in said housing to remove air from the emulsion, said rotor means having a plurality of spaced apart slots formed therein extending radially inwardly from the periphery thereof; a rotor vane radially movably mounted in each of said slots, said housing having a cavity formed therein in which said rotor means is positioned, said cavity being defined by a generally annular wall surface, said rotor means having its axis of rotation offset with respect to the center of said cavity, and means in said housing for moving said vanes in said slots so that said vanes wipe upon said wall surface as said rotor means rotates, said housing having a vacuum port means formed therein, said vacuum means being in communication with said vacuum port means, said vacuum port means being positioned between said discharge and intake openings on the downstream side of said discharge opening, said wall surface having a channel means formed therein extending from said vacuum port means towards said intake opening, the length of said channel means being sufficient so as to provide communication between said intake opening and said vacuum port means.
 9. An emulsion pump comprising, a rotary pump means comprising a housing having intake and discharge openings formed therein, a rotor means rotatably mounted in said housing for pumping an emulsion, and a vacuum means in communication with said housing for creating a vacuum in said housing to remove air from the emulsion, said pump means having means at its intake opening to cause the emulsion to be extruded into said cavity in a thin sheet so that a large surface area of emulsion is exposed to the vacuum present in said cavity. 